Allen McConnell

The establishment of this chair is in the 1st phase of support and has recently surpassed $400K and counting. This chair will celebrate and recognize the over 41-years of teaching, advising and mentoring that Allen McConnell has provided the University of Northern Colorado in the school of business.

Dean Don Gudmundson believes, “It is about the resources necessary for the Monfort College of Business to be creative in the way we recruit, retain and enrich top faculty."

A chair is the most prestigious named faculty position at the University of Northern Colorado. The Allen McConnell Distinguished Chair has been created to recognize the countless contributions McConnell, director of accounting and computer information systems and professor of accounting, has made to the College of Business and its students during his 40 years of service.

The Chair will be used to attract and retain an outstanding accounting scholar and teacher, one with a national reputation.

Distinguished Chairs have traditionally honored colleagues, friends, loved ones, and cherished educators, whose names become a permanent part of the institution while at the same time advancing the cause of knowledge and the education of students.

Allen McConnell has been teaching accounting since the college was founded in 1968 after receiving a BS in accounting in 1965 and a MS in accounting in 1966, both from the University of North Dakota. Over his 41 years at UNC, he also taught in the areas of auditing, governmental and managerial accounting. He has served as Department Chair (now School Director) for 16 years, served as an advisor of Beta Alpha Psi and the Professional Accounting Association for many years.

"Being honored as the recipient of a Distinguished Chair is the ultimate recognition I could receive from UNC and the Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business, however, I have received much more from students, alumni, colleagues, and the accounting profession than I could ever give in return. I accepted the Distinguished Chair honor for all of the individuals who have made my career at UNC a success. Thousands of names should be added to my name, as thousands have supported me during my forty years at UNC. When I began my career at UNC forty years ago, my senior colleagues in accounting impressed on me the importance of the students we work with. Students are what the university should be about. We constantly need to look at ourselves and our programs to see if we are giving everything we can to our customers: students, their parents, alumni, potential employers, and others who look to our programs through their lifetime. The atmosphere in MCB allowed me to build and continue my relationships with excellent students as they became alumni and to work with them to continually improve the programs in MCB. My life will always be intertwined with these wonderful individuals."

The Allen McConnell Distinguished Chair

Objective:
The McConnell Distinguished Chair commits to a future that builds on the quality of the accounting program and the Monfort College of Business.
 
Establishing a Distinguished Chair in Allen’s name helps to attract and retain distinguished professors and strengthens education at MCB and the University of Northern Colorado.

The Goal:
Build a $1,500,000 endowment to strengthen the cause of knowledge and education at the Monfort College of Business and the University of Northern Colorado.

The Impact:
Establishing the Allen McConnell Distinguished Chair will make a bold statement that the Monfort College of Business remains committed to scholarship and education at the highest level.

Being able to recruit top talent and/or reward our own esteemed faculty will energize the entire University of Northern Colorado community. Beyond validating our commitment to faculty, the Allen McConnell Distinguished Chair will provide MCB with the necessary leverage to encourage others to invest in one of the best institutions in the country.

Testimonials:
“Professor McConnell has transformed the lives of hundreds of students over his long and distinguished career. I am but one.
 
I attended UNC on a scholarship and for years I have given back to support students who need financial assistance. However, when the idea of a distinguished accounting chair in Allen McConnell’s name surfaced, I immediately knew it was a way to me to participate in leaving a legacy to a very deserving man and help preserve a quality accounting program for future students.”

Cheryl Wenzinger, UNC’72, Retired Partner, Deloitte, Denver, UNC Foundation Board

“I believe the UNC accounting department provides for a special education experience which is impactful to the future of our profession. The culture created by professors like Allen McConnell is paramount to maintaining the past success. Our contributions will enable the University to compete for the best teaching professors, which is not only a worthwhile cause, but almost a necessary requirement in this economic environment.”  

Tim Bradley, Bradley, Allen & Assoc LLP

“Allen has unselfishly dedicated over half of his life to UNC. As an alumnus, the education I received prepared me for a successful career in the field of accounting. As employers, we continue to benefit from the fruits of Allen’s efforts in hiring his graduates. Alumni, employers and the accounting profession have benefited from his life as an accounting professor and we have an opportunity to recognize this great man for all he has done. Your contribution to the Allen McConnell Distinguished Chair will allow UNC to continue his legacy.”

Greg Anton, Anton Collins Mitchell LLP